title: How large must an iridotomy be?
abstract: Four cases of acute angle closure glaucoma in eyes with a small but patent Nd-YAG laser iridotomy are presented, and similar cases in the literature are reviewed. Theoretically a 15 microns diameter iridotomy should be large enough to prevent angle closure glaucoma due to pupil block. Mechanisms by which larger iridotomies fail to prevent angle closure glaucoma, and the role of provocation tests following iridotomy, are discussed. An iridotomy should be at least 150-200 microns in diameter if acute angle closure glaucoma is to be reliably prevented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Fleck
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007498:Iris / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions